DATCPNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94DATCPMon, 05 Feb 2018 06:50:11 +0000DATCPhttp://wxpr.org
Ken Krall The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is out with the top consumer complaints filed with that agency last year. Topping the list is....you guessed it...telemarketing. Michelle Reinen is Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection.... "...we heard from over 4,000 consumers who filed complaints who received unwanted, unsolicited phone calls. That's an increase of over 12 percent from last year. We also know that the categories within telemarketing were about extended auto service contracts when a consumers warranty wasn't even due to expire....." Landlord complaints were second overall, with telecommunications complaints, like TV and internet problems coming in third. She says the imposter phone calls were also a top complaint with scammers saying they were from the IRS, utilities and and using other tactics like fake tech support to try to free you from your money.... "....but then identity theft was in at #4. In that category, normally it's a lot of taxDATCP Details Top Consumer Complaints #1 is Telemarketershttp://wxpr.org/post/datcp-details-top-consumer-complaints-1-telemarketers
72040 as http://wxpr.orgThu, 01 Feb 2018 22:36:58 +0000DATCP Details Top Consumer Complaints #1 is TelemarketersKen Krall We hear from a state consumer official who says they're being deluged by calls from the public about scams. Ken Krall talks with Frank Frassetto, Division Administrator for Trade and Consumer Protection.... Frank Frassetto from the Department of Agrriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.The New Year Brings Out Scammers In Forcehttp://wxpr.org/post/new-year-brings-out-scammers-force
57396 as http://wxpr.orgTue, 17 Jan 2017 09:46:00 +0000The New Year Brings Out Scammers In ForceKen Krall It's vacation time, but a state consumer affairs spokesperson says it's not time to relax as identity thieves can strike quickly if you let your guard down. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Affairs spokesperson Jerad Albracht says a few suggestions include using a credit card instead of a debit card as the credit card offers more protection if lost or stolen. says be careful not to take along identity cards like Social Security, Medicare and banking cards. He says be very careful of ATM machines. A growing concern are skimmers. A card reader can fit over the actual ATM reader and the other is an in-line reader which can be put on gas pumps.. "....take a good look at the machine before you use it. Make sure there's nothing loose, there's no broken security seals. Take a look around for any out of place pen cameras or small portable cameras tracking your key entry for your PIN number...." Jerad Albracht says backup all material on smartphones and the like in case it's lostConsumer Spokesperson Asks Vacationers To Stay Vigilanthttp://wxpr.org/post/consumer-spokesperson-asks-vacationers-stay-vigilant
49707 as http://wxpr.orgTue, 21 Jun 2016 21:40:53 +0000Consumer Spokesperson Asks Vacationers To Stay VigilantKen Krall With holiday shopping getting into full swing this week, state consumer protection officials say be vigilant when buying gift cards. State consumer protection leader Frank Frassetto says gift cards are among the top gifts for the ninth year in a row. He says scammers know this, then try to get between you and your money by setting up phony cards and asking for information... "....they will send you an email, text, or contact you by phone and say we have a $500 or $1,000 gift card.All we need is verify your information and it will be coming your way. Someone may give away all their personal, identifiable information..." Frassetto says it's best to buy gift cards directly from a retailer or authorized merchant, but if you do consider buying an unused card second-hand, purchase it from someone you know. If you have a problem, contact consumer protection at datcp.wisconsin .gov or call their hotline at 800-422-7128.Gift Cards Can Be Prime Scam Targetshttp://wxpr.org/post/gift-cards-can-be-prime-scam-targets
41607 as http://wxpr.orgWed, 25 Nov 2015 21:49:34 +0000Gift Cards Can Be Prime Scam TargetsA state spokesperson says the current outbreak of Avian flu in Wisconsin is not likely a threat to humans, but it is a threat to domestic poultry. 40 birds in a backyard flock in Juneau county and 126,000 turkeys in a commercial setting have been affected so far. Raechelle Cline from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says the flu is spread from wild birds to domestic birds. She says while it has proven fatal to domestic poultry, it hasn't killed wild birds... "...anyone who owns a backyard poultry flock or who is a commercial producer of poultry will make sure to practice proper biosecurity to prevent contact between wild birds and their birds..." The H5 avian influenza virus was first detected in Wisconsin at a commercial chicken flock in Jefferson County on Monday. More than 180,000 egg-laying chickens are likely to be affected. Multiple outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred most recently in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, the Dakotas and KansasAvian Flu Hitting Wisconsin, Domestic Flocks Affectedhttp://wxpr.org/post/avian-flu-hitting-wisconsin-domestic-flocks-affected
32456 as http://wxpr.orgThu, 16 Apr 2015 19:40:46 +0000Avian Flu Hitting Wisconsin, Domestic Flocks AffectedKen Krall It's that time again when cellphone, landline and voice over I. P. owners can renew or sign up for Wisconsin's No Call List. The list stops private company telemarketers from calling you. State Consumer Protection spokesperson Jerad Albracht says the quarterly sign up has proven popular... "....every quarter we(compile) the list and send it to register telemarketers...at the end of this month we will have reached the end of this quarter. So numbers that go one before the end of this month will be added to the list as of January 1st that is sent to those telemarketers..." Albracht says some organizations are exempt from the no-call rules... "....political calls, calls from non-profit organizations, and calls from sales companies made in response to any verbal or written request that you have given them to contact you, those are all protected under the law..." Free registrations are good for two years. The website nocall.wisconsin.gov has more information.No Call List Deadline Saturdayhttp://wxpr.org/post/no-call-list-deadline-saturday
11304 as http://wxpr.orgFri, 29 Nov 2013 00:05:17 +0000No Call List Deadline SaturdayKen Krall Four years ago the Wisconsin legislature loosened restrictions on selling canning at places like Farmer's Markets. It was called the "Pickle Bill". Now a move is on to allow baked goods to be sold in a similar way. The Assembly's Small Business Development Committee heard testimony this week on a bill allowing the selling of homemade baked goods like breads, muffins and cookies without the usual permit. If the bill becomes law, some regulations would remain...says Raechelle (ray-shell)Cline, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Division of Food Safety... "...this bill would allow a person to receive up to $10,000 per year from the sale of this particular food item..." Refrigeration would not be a requirement.... "....the current law allows for these products to be sold at community or social events or a Farmer's Market. This bill replaces that bill with requirements that the sales be face-to-face sales with consumers..." About three-dozenBill Would Allow Bake Goods To Be Sold Like "Pickle Bill"http://wxpr.org/post/bill-would-allow-bake-goods-be-sold-pickle-bill
7894 as http://wxpr.orgThu, 12 Sep 2013 22:08:55 +0000Bill Would Allow Bake Goods To Be Sold Like "Pickle Bill"Ken Krall Northland Pines students in Eagle River are among students from 39 other districts involved in the "Farm to School" program. The program is a cooperative effort of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Americorps. It provides food and education says Northland Pines Science teacher Robin Indermuehle.. "....trying to get fresh food and local food into the school systems. Whether that's in the lunch programs or as nutrition information in the classrooms, helping students learn how to grow food, how to make good choices...with the obesity epidemic and the kids not knowing where their food comes from...." A Farm-To-School committee got together about a year ago to apply for the competitive grant. Two part-time Americorps workers have been hired to implement the program. One will be a nutrition educator working with teachers on programming, the other worker will be a community outreach specialist who will work with the food service and farms.... ".....mostFarm To School Program Approved At Northland Pineshttp://wxpr.org/post/farm-school-program-approved-northland-pines
7118 as http://wxpr.orgTue, 27 Aug 2013 22:06:00 +0000Farm To School Program Approved At Northland PinesKen Krall Saturday is the deadline if you want to stop pesky telemarketers from calling your personal telephones. Wisconsin's "No Call" list allows citizens to sign up for free and have two years without commercial telemarketing calls. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection spokesperson Jim Dick details how it works... "...people who sign up for the No Call List by September first can get their phone numbers, cellphone numbers and land line household numbers on this telemarketing No Call List. That will take effect on October first as long as they sign up before September first..." He says if you miss signing up this time, you have to wait again until January. Telemarketers are given the list, and are told not to call the numbers. Some telemarketers are allowed to call you... "....political calls, calls from non-profit organizations, and calls if you applied or subscribed to something and said it was 'ok' for them to call you, you can still get those calls. It doesn't coverNo Call List Deadline August 31http://wxpr.org/post/no-call-list-deadline-august-31
6992 as http://wxpr.orgSat, 24 Aug 2013 12:44:29 +0000No Call List Deadline August 31